Foldable chair



Nov. 19, 1929. J. J. SCHMITT- 1,736,631

FOLDABLE CHAIR Filed March 27. 1928 15 42 Jose :1 ,S'cYTmIfi,

-- ATTO NE v Patented Nov. 19, 1929 STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH JOHNSCHMITT, OF ALGOMA, WISCONSIN FOLDABLE CHAIR a manner as hereinafter setforth a chair which is adapted to collapse into a compact rectangularunit requiring the mmimum of storage $133.08.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a chair which may be collapsed or opened by onlyusing one hand, and to further provide a chair which may be placed atrest in an angular position against a wall without the slipping orsliding from that position.

A further Object of the invention is to pro vide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a metallic reinforced seat and back therebyproviding long life for the chair.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a cha': including metallic legs, metallic bracestherefor, a metallic back frame and a metallic seat frame whereby achair structure is set up which possesses unusual durability.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a foldable chair which is strong, durable,compact when folded, highly efficient for its intended purposes, easilypositioned for occupancy, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture andreadily folded.

/Vith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, ashereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationsmay be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters threuglmut the denoteSn v corresponding parts oral views Figure 1 is a side elevation of thechair, in accordance with this invention in an eX- tended position.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the chair.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the chair when folded, and furtherillustrating in dotted lines the position of the elements of the chairwhen extending the same.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating a reinforcingelement for a pair of legs.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the seat frame upon a reduced scale.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary View in vertical section upon an enlargedscale illustrating the pivotal connection.

A chair in accordance with this invention is constructed of metal ofsuitable strength throughout with the exception of the seat and backpanels which are made of wood, fiber or any suitable material. Allpivots referred to in the following description, with the exception ofthe one connecting the seat and the back are formed by round headedrivets with a spacing washer interposed between the pivoted parts tofacilitate the fold- ,ing of the chair without the faces of the movableopposed parts binding against each other. The round head of the rivet ispositioned on the outside of the parts to present the best appearance tothe observer, whereas the flattened battered head is on the insideconcealed from view.

Referring to the drawings in detail the chair includes a pair of frontlegs 8, a pair of rear legs 9 and with the rear legs 9 pivotedintermediate their ends to the front legs 8 by the individual pivots 10,11. The front legs are positioned exteriorly of the rear legs. The legsare made of flat strips of metal of a thickness equal to the strengthrequired. The bottom edges 12, 13 of each pair of legs are angularlydisposed with respect to the side edges thereof, thereby performing thedual function of providing an even bearing surface with the floor whenthe chair is in the open position and providing the oppositelyprojecting points 1.4, 1.5 when the chair is in closed position so as tobight into the floor to prevent slipping when inclined against a wall ateither angle.

The rear pair of legs 9 are provided with a pair of flat tie straps 16,17 in the nature of reinforcing braces to prevent the binding or warpingof the legs, and one of said straps 17 is located in alignment with theindividual pivots 10, 11 while the other strap 16 is located betweensaid pivots and the bottom edge of leg 9. In addition to the manner ofattaching the straps to the legs which will hereafter be referred to,the pivot-s 10, 11 secure the single strap 17 to the legs 9. The frontpair of legs are provided with tie straps 18, 19

similar to 16, 17 with strap 18 located between the pivots 10, 11 andthe lower edge 13 of legs 8, whereas the other strap 19 is positionedbetween said pivots and the upper end of the legs 8. The upper strap 19provides in addition to its reinforcing function, a rest or support forthe seat inasmuch as its top edge abuts against the lower flange of theT-shaped rear bar or member of the seat frame hereafter to be described.The straps 16 17 of the rear legs project from the same edge of thelegs. The straps 18, 19 project from opposite edges of the front legswhereby they are oppositely disposed with respect to each other for thepurpose of compensating for the strains on the opposite ends of thecentral pivots 10, 11 in addition to the reinforcing purposes. Eachstrap is of like construction and by way of example the structurethereof is illustrated in Figure 5. The strap is formed from a flatstrip of metal of the samewidth and thickness as a leg. The strapincludes a body portion 20, extending between the opposed legs. Theoppositeends of the body portion are bent inwardl, at right anglesforming the flanges 21,

22 which contact flush with and are welded to the inner side faces 23,2i of the opposite legs.

The top of the rear legs9 are pivoted in the aforementioned manner tothe side edges of the seat frame near its forward end as at 25, whilethe top of the front legs 8 are pivoted in the same manner to the outerside edges of the back frame near its lower end. The front legs 8 aresubstantially longer than the rear legs 9.

The seat portion of the chair designated generally at 27 issubstantially rectangular with rounded forward corners. The seatcomprises a metallic frame 28 that provides a support'for a panel orseat member 29 formed of wood or other suitable material which is seatedtherein flush with the top edges of the frame. The sides 30, 30, front31 of the frame 28 are of angle shape in Vertical section having avertical flange 30" and a horizontal flange 30, which horizontal flangeextends inwardly from. the lower end of the flange 30". The back memberor bar 32 of the frame 28 is of T-shaped cross section forming ahorizontally disposed web 32" and an upper vertical flange 33 and alower vertical flange 34 which latter is of less length than the flange33 and forms a combination thereof. The web 32 is centrally disposedwith respect to the flanges 33, 34, and is of greater cross sectionalwidth than the other flanges. The several flanges and the web areintegral with each other and constitute a supporting base for the panel29 which is seated flush with the upper edge of the frame 28 and in theangle formed by the contiguous vertical flanges 30", 33, and thehorizontal flange 30 and web 32. The lower flange 34: abuts against thetie strap 19 and thereby forms a support for the rear end of the seat 27in open position, while the forward end of the seat is supported on thepivots 25. Projecting rearwardly from the outer edges and near the endsof the T-shaped rear member of the seat frame 28, is a pair of aperturedears 35, which form a pivotal support for pivotally connecting seat 27to the back of the chair as will be hereafter described.

The back of the chair is designated generally at 36 and is substantiallyrectangular with rounded upper corners. The back is constructed of ametallic frame 37 in which is supported a panel 38 formed of wood, fibreor other suitable material. The frame is formed of metal of right angledcross section having a flange 39 projecting inwardly upon which the baseof the panel 38 rests and an upturned flange 40 made integral withflange 39 and extending at right angles to the outer edge thereof, whichabuts against the edges of said panel, so that the panel is seated flushwithin the angle of the frame. The two sides 41 and the top 415 of theframe are formed of a single length of angular metal bent in U-shape,with a separate piece of like angular metal welded to the sides, armsand across the bottom of the U-shaped piece to form the b o ttom 41 ofthe frame. The'opposite sides of the frame 41 project beyond the bottomof the back to form a pair of arms dl', which are integral with the topand sides of the frame 37. On the extremities of each of the arms 41"and projecting at right angles thereto is an apertured ear &2 which isinset with respect to the arm. The apertured ears 42 are positioned onthe outer sides of the apertured cars '35 of the seat 27. The aperturesof each outer ear register with an aperture of an inner ear. Extendingthrough each pair of registering ears is a pivot 13 by 7 means of whichthe seat 27 and the back'36 are pivotally connected together.

In Figure 2 of the drawings the space 41% provided by the structure ofthe registering ears and drums r-l will allow the folding of the seat 2?and the back-36 to be folded into superimposed position indicated by thedotted lines in Figure 4C, without the edges of the members 27 and 36binding each other in any manner.

The seat panel 29 is secured in the seat frame 28 by means of aplurality'of holdfast devices 45 spaced around the horizontal flange 30and web 32, and likewise the back panel 38 is secured to the back frame3'? by the holdfast devices 46 around the flange 89.

hat I claim is 1. In a folding chair a pivoted seat comprising a rimincluding sides, front and rear, said sides and front of angle shapedcross section to provide vertical and horizontal flanges disposed atright angles to each other, said rear of T-shaped cross section toprovide a horizontal web and upper and lower vertical flanges, saidhorizontal web and flanges providing a base for a seat panel surroundedby the upper range of said rear and the vertical flanges of said sidesand front, and said lower flange providing a support for the seat rimwhen the chair is extended.

2. In a folding chair a pivoted seat comprising a rim including sides,front and rear, said sides and front of angle shaped cross section toprovide vertical and horizontal flanges disposed at right angles to eachother, said rear of T-shaped cross section to provide a horizontal weband upper and lower vertical flanges, said horizontal web and flangesproviding a base for a seat panel surrounded by the upper flange of saidrear and the vertical flanges of said sides and front, and said lowerflange providing a support for the seat rim when the chair is extended,said rim further including rearwardly extending apertured earsprojecting from the ends of the rear thereof forpivotal connection to achair back.

3. In a folding chair a pivoted seat comprising a rim including sides,front and rear, said sides and front of angle shaped cross section toprovide vertical and horizontal flanges disposed at right angles to eachother, said rear of T-shaped cross section to provide a horizontal weband upper and lower vertical flanges, said horizontal web and flangesproviding a base for a seat panel surrounded by the upper flange of saidrear and the vertical flanges of said sides and front, and said lowerflange providing a support for the seat rim when the chair is extended,said horizontal web of greater cross sectional width than saidhorizontal flange.

4. In a folding chair, a pair of opposed front legs, a pair of opposedrear legs, upper and lower braces interposed between the front legs,upper and lower braces interposed between the rear legs, each of saidbraces formed from a flat strip having flanges at the ends t is *eofsecured to the inner faces of a pair of opposed legs, the upper bracefor the front legs positioned above the upper brace for the rear legs,and a pair of spaced, aligning pivots, each pivot connecting a rear legto a front leg, said pivots connecting the flanges of the upper bracefor the rear legs to the latter.

5. In a folding chair, a seat comprising a substantially rectangular rimof angular cross section throughout, a panel mounted in, supported byand flush with the top of said rim, a pair of pivotal supports on theside edges of said rim and in proximity to the front of the latteradapted for connection with the rear legs of the chair, a verticallydisposed flange on and depending below the rear edge of said rim andadapted for abutting a leg brace for supporting the rear of the seat, apair of rearwardly extending apertured ears at the opposite ends of theflange, in alignment with the sides of the said rim and adapted topivotal connection to the back of the chair, and means extendingupwardly through the body of the rim for securing the panel therein.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

JOSEPH JOHN SCHMITT.

